An open mic in Danville? Yes indeed, folks, and a nice one at that!
To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. I know Danville mostly by reputation as an affluent zip code just short of Blackhawk’s opulence. The fact that this open mic is held in a wine bar did little to shatter my preconceptions. So I pulled into charming (and it IS charming) downtown Danville and watched the beautiful people stroll past as I unloaded my instruments. I was relieved upon entering Corks to see a pierced, leather-jacketed dude at the bar with a bottle of beer in his hand and an adjacent table with a couple of friendly, Grateful-Dead-ish-looking dudes. Score one for abandoning preconceptions says you!
I gotta say, if you’re looking for an open mic to snap some pictures at an open mic event - this might be your place. The lighting is dramatic and the symmetrical wine racks around the room make for some nice photo ops.
Turns out Chris Estes rotates hosting duties with Dave Andre each week. Dave is a friendly, very able guitar player and even leant me his very nice guitar to save me from unpacking mine. The two friendly guys at the adjacent table turned out to be George Petersen and J.J. Jenkins of Ariel fame. They also have a wicked sense of humor, well-evidenced in their original material. The lads (pictured below) slipped me a couple of CDs and headed out before things ended, explaining that they needed to drive back to Alameda.
The staff at this open mic is incredibly friendly and, as the event has yet to grow in popularity, the list recycles once or twice, odds are you’ll an opportunity to play more than once. As I’m still recovering, musically speaking, from the St Patrick’s Day holiday, I stuck to the bodhran for a couple of tunes, which seemed, surprisingly, to go over pretty well. Right on.
I really like the vibe of this open mic and the venue is just gorgeous. All around me I watched folks swirling velvety dollops of lovely pinot noir in fishbowl-sized glasses. Sadly, I wasn’t drinking, which limited my beverage options to water . . . or $6 for a splash of Martinelli’s sparkling apple cider in the bottom of a thimble-sized champagne flute. Yow, wake up and smell the zip code says you! It’s sad, but my unemployed ass can’t be spending six bucks just to smell non-alcoholic cider.
Even so, Corks has such a great vibe and friendly crowd, odds are I’ll be back. There aren’t many open mics in the east bay, we gotta support the ones that exist.
Wow. the open mic thing is new to me. I’m a rapper. Who does not play any instrument. would come in there with a cd only. is this thing more geared towards real musicians? or is a cd fine for now?
heya Greg - it really depends on the open mic, but I’d say most places would be glad to have you.
The poetry slam in Oakland is all spoken word/rap - I’d definitely check that one out. At others, you’ll want to bring a player and cable ending in male 1/4-inch or RCA plugs to plug in your backing tracks (in case they’re not set up for that) and check with the MC beforehand to make sure that singing to pre-recorded music is OK their event.
-sean
wHEN is it exactly?
And can i play there even if i’m 14 years old?
Alec: Unfortunately, Corks closed its doors in 2009. It was not an all-ages venue, so under-21 performers would not have been welcome. Chris Estes, the host, now hosts a new open mic in Danville at Meenar’s:
http://www.bayareaopenmics.com/venue.php?venueRef=239&dayRef=1®ionRef=2
Unfortunately, that also is an 21-and-over venue.
Your closest underage venues might be in Fremont. Either Mission Coffees:
http://www.bayareaopenmics.com/venue.php?venueRef=31&dayRef=5®ionRef=2
Or the Essanay Cafe in Niles (Fremont):
http://www.bayareaopenmics.com/venue.php?venueRef=122&dayRef=3®ionRef=2
Good luck!